Islamabad, Pakistan — Pakistan’s information minister has raised alarms over potential military action from India, claiming the country has “credible intelligence” pointing to a possible strike within the next day or two. Attaullah Tarar’s statement follows India’s accusations that Pakistan is harboring militants responsible for a recent attack in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 tourists dead.
Tarar contended that India may be seeking to leverage the incident as a “false pretext” for military escalation. He asserted, “Any such military adventurism by India would be met with a robust and decisive response.” The Indian foreign ministry has not yet responded to these assertions.
The attack near Pahalgam marks the deadliest incident against civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir in two decades. Both nations claim the disputed region, which has been a historical flashpoint since their partition in 1947, leading to multiple conflicts and ongoing tensions. In the wake of the attack, military personnel from both countries have engaged in intermittent exchanges of fire across their shared border.
In the days following the attack, Indian authorities have intensified security operations, detaining over 1,500 individuals for questioning in connection with the incident. Reports indicate that additional arrests have taken place, although precise numbers remain unclear. In an aggressive move, authorities have also demolished the homes of at least ten alleged militants thought to be connected to the violence, with at least one linked to a suspect involved in the shootings.
The region of Kashmir has experienced an armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1989, with various militant groups targeting both security forces and civilians. Amid rising national tensions, speculation has grown regarding possible military action from India, reminiscent of responses to earlier attacks in 2016 and 2019.
While Indian officials have not identified a specific group responsible for the Pahalgam attack, a previously obscure organization called the Resistance Front initially claimed involvement but has since retracted its statement. The group is purportedly linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a militant faction based in Pakistan that has also been accused of fostering violence in Kashmir.
Indian law enforcement has identified three suspects tied to the shooting, including two reportedly from Pakistan and one local from Kashmir. The identity and origin of a fourth suspect remain unknown. Survivors have recounted harrowing details, suggesting that the attackers specifically targeted Hindu men during the assault.
The attack has ignited significant outrage across India, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to vow that authorities will pursue the attackers “to the ends of the earth,” asserting that those who orchestrated the assault “will be punished beyond their imagination.” The escalating situation sees both nations on high alert, as the specter of military confrontation looms over the fragile landscape of Kashmir.